Critics' choices.

Art: `Vestment Collection'

This is the final week for `Gloria in Excelsis Deo: Heralding a Vestment Collection," the exhibition of more than 75 textiles and garments from the Western Church that date from the 14th through the 20th Centuries. It is the first such show at the Art Institute of Chicago since 1975 and a beautiful way to end the holiday season. Closing day is Jan. 12.

- Alan G. Artner

CLASSICAL: BRAHMSIAN BOUNTY

The music world this year is heaping lavish tributes on Johannes Brahms on the centennial of the composer's death. The Northwestern University School of Music is doing its part by presenting an ambitious, six-concert Brahms Centennial Chamber Music Festival through January. The first program of the series will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Evanston's Pick-Staiger Concert Hall; performers include violinists Rachel Barton and festival coordinator Blair Milton, along with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. NU associate professor John Buccheri will deliver a pre-concert talk at 6:15 p.m. The Brahms Festival continues through Jan. 26, when Daniel Barenboim will appear as pianist. Among the other artistsjoining in the celebration will be pianist Ursula Oppens and the Vermeer Quartet. 847-467-4000.

FOR THE RECORD - Additional material published Jan. 5, 1997:Corrections and clarifications.In today's preprinted Arts & Entertainment section, the air time of the ABC show "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" is listed incorrectly as 11 p.m. The show will air at midnight each weekday. The Tribune regrets the error.

- John von Rhein

JAZZ: YOUNG LIONS, OLD LIONS

Yes, there will be virtuosos of all vintages converging on Chicago in the coming week. Tenor saxophonist James Carter, pianist Cyrus Chestnut and drummer Leon Parker each will lead his own band Friday in Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave., in a show titled `Blues, Roots, Honks & Moans" (phone 312-294-3000). And several venerable players will hold forth at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave., with saxophonist Bunky Green playing Tuesday, tenor giant Von Freeman on Wednesday and multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan Thursday through Jan. 12 (312-670-BIRD).

- Howard Reich

TV: LATE NIGHT'S NEW FACE

At long last, after months of rumor and a year's delay between announcement and implementation, Bill Maher's gem of a talk show,"Politically Incorrect," moves over from Comedy Central to ABC. It'll air in the post-"Nightline" slot starting Monday (11 p.m. weeknights, WLS-Ch. 7). The show features comic Maher as moderator and four often hilariously mismatched celebrity guests in a TV version of cocktail party chatter: part insight and part humorous take on topics Maher introduces.

- Steve Johnson

ROCK: CZUKAY UNFETTERED

If Holger Czukay had a buck for every time theinnovations ofhis German avant-garde rock band Can have been praised, appropriated or simply ripped off by any number of current hipsters, from Pavement to Sonic Youth, he'd be reading about himself in Fortune. Czukay has put Can to rest and is traveling to North America for his first tour in 20 years with six flight cases of electronic equipment, Dr. Walker of like-minded experimentalists Air Liquide and vocalist U-She. Put aside expectations about what this might sound like because Czukay is unlikely to reference any of his numerous recordings and simply play off the cuff.No matter what, it's an event that no serious rock fan should miss. Thursday, 8 p.m.,at Double Door; 773-489-3160.

- Greg Kot

THEATER:`ANNIE' RETURNS

The sun will come up--at least in song--when"Annie" returns, Tuesday through Jan. 12 at the Rosemont Theatre. The Broadway-bound revival of the 1970s musical stars Nell Carter as Miss Hannigan and an 11-year-old moppet named Joanna Pacitti in the title role. John Schuck, who played Daddy Warbucks on Broadway for a year, does so again. There's at least one new song for Carter's Miss H., by the way. For tickets: 312-902-1500.